Good day scientist watchdog! May I run a comprehensive body scan on Sherri Jr?

(Previous) Bert tried to catch Teddy’s mutter, but couldn’t quite. But when he heard his suggestion, Bert considered it for a moment before returning his smile. “Hm… Okay! It is worth a shot,” he said cheerily. Then Bert looked to Sherri Jr and stroked her back, a touch of concern returning to his face. “Maintaining my friendship with Veronica is important to not just me but for Sherri to have rat socialization play time…”

Teddy’s smile brightened when Bert accepted his idea. Then it faded as Bert spoke of how Sherri Jr’s entire rat social life rested on Veronica.

"I’m sure Veronica would side with you...” Teddy carefully reached over to give Sherri Jr. a few chin scritches before withdrawing to stir his shake.

(Previous) Bert perked up with immense interest when Teddy seemed to have an idea, shrunk when he dropped it, then tilted his head at the question. “How… strong? I don’t know that… Um, I know she has her own little army of mutant attack rats though…”

Teddy leaned back as he mentally compared Veronica and Shep. Come to think of it... between that, rumors of her pouncing anyone who screwed with her rats, and her worrisome remark about syringes at their dart game she could probably take them.

After a bit he let out a relieved sigh and muttered to himself, “Eh, fuggedabout Shep.” Then he smiled at Bert. “Tell her what they did and see if it ruins their friendship.”

(Previous) Bert widened his eye a little bit when Teddy warned him to be careful around Veronica. He glanced at his beloved Sherri Jr next to him. “Veronica, huh? I will be careful, thank you.” Bert nodded at Teddy’s thanks. “Yes, please do. Of course you’re not trying to make enemies with everyone there, but I believe not one of them is trustworthy for friendship…”

Teddy looked to Bert in concern when he saw how worried he was about Veronica. Then he solemnly nodded throughout Bert’s mini lecture. “I never expected myself to develop fondness through familiarity...”

Then he glanced at Bert, stared at Sherri, and sighed. “I doubt Veronica would try to hurt you... but she refuses to understand why privacy is important.”

A sly smirk slowly creeped across his face. “Say... how about you-” It vanished as quickly as it came and he dismissively shook his head. “...nevermind.”

(Previous) Bert listened along to Teddy’s Autumn explanation. There were a few things that alarmed him, but he wasn’t sure whether to cut in or wait until he was finished. Such things included, goodness gracious, Teddy let out an entire scream? And what’s this about scientist gossip? Wait a minute… Bert’s knows her! He uneasily fidgeted as Teddy moved on to Gloria. However, Bert couldn’t help but smirk slightly as he remembered the wonderful nickname that one had called him online. Teddy Bear… When Teddy was done talking, Bert pointed at the sketch of Autumn. “I have seen the one with the circular glass before. I knew her as Amanda Becker. At least, I think this is the same person? It was years ago. They had a labcoat, ID and everything! They would mingle with folk during breaks. Embarrassingly, I thought she was an actual scientist for a little bit until I realized I never saw her during actual work hours. Once I figured out she was a Glornist, she disappeared after I reported her.” He sighed and swirled his milkshake around with his spoon. “They have tried to… Well, they have stolen stuff from me before, and have tried to tamper with my food and drink. And they have tried to spread egregious career-ending malpractice rumors about me. But those never stuck because people either didn’t know who she was talking about or thought she was talking about someone else.” Bert sighed. “I wonder what ever became of Albert Schneider from microbiology…”

It was a good thing Teddy missed Bert’s smirk. Otherwise he’d assume that Bert thought Teddy getting infantilized was funny and have to fight to restrain his rage.

Instead Teddy attentively listened while nodding along. When Bert spoke of how they wronged him he hardened his heart as he stared at the face he had such mixed feelings about.

Of course her concern was fake. Autumn was probably playing the long con. If he allowed himself fall for it— if he tricked himself into believing that they could ever be friends— he’d become her tool. Then it was only a matter of time before she asked for a favor, not just information. Such as tampering with Bert’s food and/or drink or stealing his belongings.

“I should have figured,” Teddy said as he narrowed his eye at Autumn. “It’d be difficult to befriend Veronica if they weren’t still sneaking in.” He paused for a moment and stiffened as he said, “I suppose that’s good for Veronica because she almost became Shep’s target but... you should be careful about what you tell her.”

(prev) Veronica gave Bert a tense smile that was bordering on a grimace. And to think that she thought that she had found a kindred spirit, morality-wise. Calling her experiments psychological torture was a stretch anyways! Especially compared to his ants! “I assure you that I’ll request approval with each experiment involving Sherri III! In addition: I’ll forgo the dissection if you wish…”

Bert returned Veronica’s tense smile. He hoped she didn’t think too much less of him for being so attached to his rat. But his smile soon turned genuine as he thought of how Sherri Jr’s comfort came before the opinion of his peers.

“Thank you for understanding, professor. I appreciate it.”

Bert then perked up a bit. “Oh! This reminds me! Sherri grew out of it and can use a normal sized one now…”

He opened up a cabinet below the center station and dug around before pulling out a miniature blaster and extending it towards Veronica. 

(prev) Wait, what did Bert say? Between the volume and the speed the words had jumbled together. Was it something about her future Sherri III? Veronica had strained to hear more before he returned to normal volume. She admittably wasn’t paying as much attention to his story as she should have… Yet in a way it was Bert’s fault for failing to properly deliver such important information! “She sounded wonderful,” she said as she returned his smile. “Although I must admit that I find it difficult to imagine you wearing anything else.” Then after a short pause she asked, “Pardon me, but could you please repeat that remark about Sherri III?”

Bert sighed and tapped his fingers together. 

“Not to dull your passion. But I would prefer if you did not subject your Sherri III to any experiment tooo cruel.” 

Bert walked over to Sherri Jr and stooped down to her eye level. “Right? You wouldn’t want your future clone to be psychologically tortured or something, would you?”

(prev) Veronica squeezed her hands together out of excitement as beamed at Bert. “Why, what an interesting concept! I would be honored to! That is, if you allow me to keep a Sherri III.” Then she paused and put her hand on her hip in thought. “Say… who is Sherri Sr?”

Bert capped the marker and tucked it in his chest pocket before turning to Veronica. 

“Wonderful! A Sherri III you shall receive, then.”

He quickly spoke under his breath “...as long as you don’t subject her to any particularly cruel experiments.”

Bert seemed wistful upon hearing Veronica's question.

“Ah… Original Sherri…” Bert pointed at his face. “That was the name of a glass I once wore. Blue frame. Incredibly comfortable temples. Best glass there ever was.”

He sighed and looked down. “But years ago back at the satellite research facility they stationed me at, I tripped over a bush. Landed directly on my face. Sherri was shattered beyond repair...”